Display device



Jan. 14, 193 6 c. ROBERTS 2,827,?89

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 31, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR C. ROBERTS DISPLAY DEVICE Jan. 14, 1936.

Filed July 51, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 :2: I II: I :ED

nlll lliwr F C. ROBERTS DISPLAY DEVICE Jan. 14, 1936.

Filed'July 51, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w? H m N INVENTOR I II-H J. 14, 19%. c, R E T W 2,027,78

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 31, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T a Il 60 Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVECE Application July 31, 1935, Serial No. 33,927

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for displaying a plurality of advertising sheets in sequence of a thinness hitherto unusable in machines of this character. Where space restriction imposes the minimum dimensions on such a device, such as in placing an advertising machine in the front of a bus or taxicab, and where the actual cost of the advertising display sheets is a factor, this invention meets these limitations. Furthermore, the general disposition of the display mechanism, together with the location of the vacuum motor which may operate the device for taxi and bus service, results in a minimum of height of the machine in respect to the height of the actual advertising display sheet. The device, for this reason, can be placed in locations in these vehicles now unrealizable and yet display a commercially sized advertisement.

A further object attained is the ease of changing advertising material in the machine. The magazine of the machine is so arranged and is so accessible, due to the co-ordination of the cabinet and the unfilled portion of the sheet circuit, that the advertising sheets can be handled like the leaves of a book so that any one or more can be selected from their binders which hold only one edge thereof and can be removed and another sheet inserted quite similar to a loose-leaf binding device. The advertising sheets are of no greater thickness than ordinary book leaf stock or magazine sheets of approximately three thousandths of an inch in thickness.

An important consideration in advertising display machines of this type, wherein some ten or more display sheets are shown in each minute of elapsed time, is to devise a machine which will lose the very minimum of time in bringing in and out of registration before the 40 display window the sequence of sheets being shown therein and hence prolong to the uttermost the period of dwell or effective period of display. This invention accomplishes this most essential factor by providing for the compacting of the major portion of the sheets across the very opening of the display window in the device while circulating in their closed operative circuit. In the overlapping position which the sheets assume while compacted and opposite the window, the foremost sheet in this overlapping series is the outside sheet and accurately registers with and is displayed in the window, while the next sheet to be shown therein needs to be moved only the width of the clamp holding the fore- 55 most sheet by which it is movably restrained or guided in the operative circuit. Now, if provision is made so that while the foremost or leading sheet in the first portion of its movement out of register with the window coincidentally draws forward the next sheet, the relatively small distance represented by the width of its own clamp, which distance puts the next or succeeding sheet into registration and display, the loss of time required or the re-registration of the sequence of sheets before the window is reduced to an 2.0- 5

tual minimum, and in like degree enhances the effectiveness of the machine.

Another feature of my invention consists of means for controlling for a predetermined period, the time of actual display of each sheet. Whereas some installations, as for instance, in taxicabs require a relatively brief period of display, the same machine when installed in buses, where the possible time in which the passenger has to view the display is longer, in such instances, it is advisable to prolong the period of display of each sheet and the sheet may therefore contain more advertising material or descriptive matter which the longer period permits the eye to mentally absorb. For this reason, a commercial display device should have a variable display period, so that one type of manufactured machine can be sold into different services. Again, it is often found that this type of mechanism will speed up after a certain period of use due to the mechanism becoming worn-in and friction of parts thereby reduced. The service man on changing the advertising material each month may readily adjust the timing mechanism of my invention to keep the display period constant.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear as the nature of the invention is thoroughly understood, the same consisting in the novel construction and combination and arrangement of parts as may be hereinafter fully described and claimed, I proceed to the detailed description of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, it is understood that the drawings will serve to show for purposes of illustration only my invention in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Fig. 1 is an exterior view in front elevation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the cabinet containing my device opened in the position for loading or changing the advertising subject matter and the position of the indicated hands illustrate the ease of its manipulation.

Fig. 3 is a View in front elevation and in section along the lines 33 in Fig. 1 showing clearly the mechanical co-ordination between the two cylindered air motor and the chain operated mechanism which controls the movement of the sheets around the operative circuit of my invention.

Fig. 3a is a detailed view in elevation of the spring snap mechanism to throw the valve controlling the air motor. This view shows the valve and its actuating mechanism in the other of two positions which it occupies, the first position being shown in Fig. 3 above.

Fig. 4 is a plan view partially in section taken along the lines 44 in. Fig. 3 showing clearly, when also considering Fig. 3, the chain and cable connection between thetwo air motor pistons and their geared connection to the chain system to circulate the display sheets.

Fig. 5 is a plan view in section along the lines 55 in Fig. 3. This view has been developed to show the clamps in their closed circuit and one of their normal positions therein during operation, especially their compacted position in front of and filling the window or display opening in the cabinet and the sheets suspended therefrom.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation taken along the lines 66 in Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary end view through the lines 'l1 in Fig. 3 of the air motor valve.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the air motor valve in enlarged section.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in plan showing the escapement movement employed to control the number of display sheets shown per minute.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in plan and in section along lines lU-IO in Fig. 3 and clearly shows the first of three relative positions in the operative cycle of my invention, wherein the first of the compacted series of clamps is about to be advanced around the operative circuit thereby pulling out of register the display sheet which it carries.

Fig. 11 is the same as Fig. 10 except it shows the first clamp now moved around the circuit and in contact with the most rearward of the compacted clamps and also the position of the next to the first clamp, as shown in Fig. 10, which was advanced into that position occupied by the foremost clamp in Fig. 10 by mechanism provided to coincidently move it and thereby leave a gap, plainly shown between what is now in Fig. 11 the first or foremost clamp and the second clamp in front of the window, and designated as Z.

Fig. 12 is the same as Fig. 11 but shows what takes place with the clamps on the next sequential movement, wherein the rearmost clamp in Fig. 11 has pushed forward the entire compacted series of clamps and closed up the gap between the first and second clamps, as shown in Fig. 11, thereby restoring the general arrangement of all the clamps into the same relative position they occupied in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view in elevation of a clamp for the display sheets.

Fig. 14 is a section in plan through the lines l4--I4 in Fig. 13.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in Fig. 1, numeral 2 is the cabinet of the display device having a hinge 3 which permits it to be lowered as shown in Fig. 2 for loading or changing the advertising sheets .I. A suitable hasp 5, fastened on the back plate 4 which may be secured in any manner to the partition or wall ll, engages with a co-operating lock portion 6 on the cabinet 2, and a pin l2 secures the cabinet in the closed position, as seen in Fig. 1. Numeral 8 indicates the strap of the clamps 53, each retaining a display sheet 1, see Figs. 13 and 14. I have given 53 as a numeral referring to the clamps in general except where otherwise specified. A bar 9 sliding in a V-shaped slot therein securely fastens the sheet 9 thereto, the bar 9 being advanced in the slot by spring 59, both ends of the spring being secured to element 34 thereof. The hand I3 is shown about to push back the bar 9 to release the sheet. Numerals ID are transverse bars or frames supporting upper plate 49 and lower plate 50. 3X, Fig. 1, indicates the display window in cabinet 2 surrounded by frame I3 to secure the glass Ill therein, see Fig. 4, behind which is one of the display sheets I on display.

Referring to Fig. 3, numerals I4 and I5 are respectively the two cylinders of the air motor having therein pistons l6 and I1, and connected one to the other by chains l8 which are in turn at their respective ends connected to a cable l8a which runs over loose pulleys l9 and 28. Chain [8, see Fig. 4, meshes with sprockets 2| and 22 which are positioned on shaft 23. Sprocket 2| is free to turn thereon while the hub of sprocket 22 is pinned to shaft 23. A pinion 27 secured to shaft 23 meshes with gear 26 on shaft 28 to which are secured the sprockets 29 and 30 which cause the chains 3| and 32 to reciprocate in timed relation as the air motor reciprocates. Idler sprockets 33 and 34, mounted on bearings 35 and 36, carry the other ends of the chain loops 3| and 32, see Fig. 4. Groove 5| in top plate 49 and groove 52 in bottom plate 50 form closed circuit guides for the clamps 53, around which they circulate in the device as will be now more exactly described.

The air motor valve body 31, see Figs. 7 and 8, has a pipe connection 39 to any suitable source of evacuation and the conventional dumbbell form of piston valve 38 is made to reciprocate in the valve body 31 so that ports 42 and 43 alternately put into register the cylinders l5 and I4 through the pipe connection 4! and 40 with the source of evacuation 39. To relieve, for instance, cylinder I5 of said evacuation, see Fig. 8, here the valve through port 42 opens cylinder l 5 to atmospheric pressure through the valve annulus 44.

Referring now to the means employed to actuate the valve which controls the display period, the valve actuating cross head 48, see Fig. 4, slides in the two guides 88 secured to the side of cylinder M. An arm 8| thereon engages with stop 83 on chain l8 as the air motor cylinder I5 is being evacuated, causes piston I! to move from I the position shown in Fig. 3 to the head of its cylinder or that end at which pipe 4! enters therein. This movement drags piston Hi to the opposite end of its cylinder, as is shown in Fig. 3, the

valve coming into a position at the end of this stroke, as is shown in Fig. 3a. When stop on chain l8 contacts on the forward stroke with arm 8|, it forces cross head 48 backward distending the major springs H0, one end of which is connected at H3 to the stationary body of the valve 37 and the other end to an arm H4 secured to the rack 64 which in turn is rigidly secured to slideable cross head 48 by the screws 85. Rack 64 engages with pinion 66, see Fig. 6, which in turn is secured to shaft 61 having hearings in subframe Bl" which is suitably secured to stationary cylinders l4 and I5. On shaft 61 is pinion 68 freely turning thereon. A pawl 12 is secured to the pinion 58, see Fig. 9, and registers with the ratchet wheel H securely fastened to shaft 61.

Therefore, it is seen that when stop 80 on the forward or card advancing stroke of the air motor engages with arm 8|, the entire carriage or cross head 48 is carried along with it, the ratchet wheel H turning in the direction of the arrow, see Fig. 9, permitting the pawl 12 to override thereon. When the master spring I H) has been distended a predetermined degree by the proportioning of the arm 87, see Fig. 30, on cross head 48, arm 81 engages in its movement with pawl 89 fulcrumed on aoamse pin 83 and restrained by spring 84, said pin secured to stationary frame 88; the pawl is tripped so that its end is forced out of notch 85 in the valve actuating plate and permits the valve 38 to snap back into a position as is illustrated in Fig. 3 by the tension of spring H5 secured at one end to plate 46 and its other end to the stationary valve body 31. As valve 38 snaps back, as has just been explained, from its position as seen in Fig. 3a, to that shown enlarged in Fig. 8 or in assembly Fig. 3, the air motor makes a rapid return stroke, the chains 3| and 32 moving in the direction the reverse of the arrow Y, as is shown in Fig. 12. Stop 88 on chain l8 has also returned to the position as shown in Fig. 3, releasing thereby the cross head 48 which however is still under tension of the distended spring H0, and, through the medium of rack and the intermediate coacting gears above described, cross head 48 starts toturn pinion 15 with its escapement member 13 pivoted at M and with an adjustable weight arm 16 causing the weight H to vibrate in the well known pendulum manner. By adjusting the weight H, the lapse of time taken for the cross head to return can be predetermined, see Fig. 3. The arrow on cross head 48 denotes direction of its movement during its timing phase and shows its arm 41 just about to touch valve stem 38 to force it back into the position, as is illustrated in Fig. 3a, during the very latter portion of the valves movement, the spring 5 is distended ready to snap the valve back again when arm 81 contacts pawl 89.

It is to be noted that the inward movement of cross head 48 terminates shortly after latch 82 falls into recess 85, due to the registration of the valve and its ports, thereby locking the valve 88 under spring tension for the beginning of another cycle. As valve 38 was forced into position, as shown in Fig. 3a, or just immediately after the ports therein have reversed the flow of evacuation, the air motor makes a stroke drawing forward in the circuit, see arrow Fig. 10, the foremost clamp with its display sheet out of register with the window 3X, Fig. 1'. An adjustable stop on plate 45 limits the movement of valve 38 under the tension of spring I [5.

Now referring to the structure and means for circulating the clamps 53 around the circuit 52 of my device. In Fig. 10, I show an arm 98 secured to the chain 32, a similar arm is secured to chain 35; these arms engage, simultaneously hooks 5! and 82, see Figs. 13 and 14, and thereby carry the foremost clamp 53 around the circuit when valve 38 is being moved into position as in Fig. 3a. This is very graphically shown when considering Fig. 10 in respect to Fig. 11. At the same time as the foremost clamp 53 is being passed around the circuit to contact with the rear clamp H5, in Fig. 11, the following movement takes place. A stop l0! secured on chain 32 on the previous reversestroke of chain 32 has contacted arm I82 which is pivoted at I83 on yoke member and distended spring I06. Arm I02 is held outward by a spring I05 and limited in its outward movement by stop IM. As arm I02 is pushed backward by the stop llll on the previous stroke, it likewise turns yoke member 95 around on its bearing 96 and the arm 98, also pressed outward by spring Hi0 and pivoted on member 95 at 59, catches into or behind hook 52 on the clamp directly behind the foremost clamp in the series of clamps compacted in front of the window at the same instant hook 90, see Fig. 7, engages in the corresponding hook 82 in the foremost frame so'that' as chain 32 and stop l0l go forward inthe direction of the arrow on the forward stroke, see Fig. 10, the distended spring I88 forces arm 98 to coincidently move the next to the foremost clamp forward.

However, the second clamp moved by arm 98 only moves into that position previously occupied by the foremost clamp, due to stop 94, see Fig. 11, in which the foremost clamp to which I have given the numeral 53 is now seen in Fig. 11 as the rearmost of the compacted clamps, and as chain 32 completes its full stroke forward,v the clamp 53 incontacting with clamp H5 pushes the entire series of clamps forward as appears in Fig. 12, closing up the open gap Z, as appeared in Fig. 1 1. A spring controlled stop 9|, fulcrumed atM, has stopped the next to the foremost clamp as shown in Fig. 11 at the proper position for the display card which it carries to be in full register with the window 3X, see Fig. 12.

It is to be noted that yoke member 95, see Fig. 6, engages with hook 6| at the stop of clamp 53 coincidently. A glass plate H2 is in the rear of the cabinet for two purposes, first its low coeificient of friction surface reduces wear on the display sheets as they are dragged past. This condition is also satisfied by the glass window Ill in the display opening. Second, when the cabinet is dropped down, see Fig. 2, for loading, theglass, being transparent, allows the operator to see that the display sheets are not folded over improperly before the cabinet is reclosed.

The operationof my invention as may be readily seen from the foregoing description is as follows: When a source of evacuation is connected to the tube 39, the pressure differential causes the pistons l6 and IT to reciprocate in their cylinders due to the functioning of valve 38. A predetermined period of dwell is formed between the reciprocating strokes by the spring charged escapement mechanism already fully described. The foremost clamp 53, see Fig. 5, is carried around the empty part of the circuit to contact with clamp H8 on the forward stroke. At the same time, the next to the foremost clamp is. advanced automatically into the position occupied by clamp 53, and finally at the very end of the same stroke, the gap Z, left by the relative movement of the first two clamps is closed up by clamp 53, see Fig.

12, forcing all the compacted clamps around in their closed circuit. The timing mechanism after its predetermined dwell now moves the valve which reverses the air motor which in turn reverses the operative stroke of the device, and stop.

MI and arm 9!] return to the position shown in Fig. 10, and the cycle repeats itself.

It may be remarked that this device operates smoothly and the very rapid re-registration of each succeeding display sheet is very pleasing to the eye and the device makes an attractive and commercially practical display mechanism. The control of the number of sheets displayed per minute, irrespective of evacuation variance, permits the device to fulfill the limitations imposed on it by commercial requirements.

What I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is encompassed in the following claims:

1. In a display device containing a display window and comprising a plurality of display sheets movably restrained within a closed circuit, part of said circuit crossing in front of said window, means to compact in said circuit the said sheets in an overlapping series across the entire front of said window, the leading sheet thereof being in register with said window, and means to advance the leading sheet of said series out of register of said window, and coincident means therewith to advance into register with said window the sheet next to said leading sheet.

2. In a display device containing a display window and comprising a plurality of display sheets movably restrained within a closed circuit, one portion of said circuit traversing said window, and compacting means to form a magazine of said sheets in that portion of said circuit traversing said window, and reciprocating means to advance along said circuit and out of registration with said window, the leading sheet in said magazine to the rearmost position of said sheets com prising said magazine in said circuit.

3. In a display device containing a window and comprising a plurality of display sheets movably restrained within a closed circuit, one portion of said closed circuit traversing said window, and means to compact said sheets in that portion of said circuit traversing said window, the foremost of said sheets visibly registering therethrough, and means to advance said foremost sheet along said circuit out of register with said window and in contact with the rearmost of said compacted sheets.

4. In a display device containing a window and comprising a plurality of display sheets movably restrained within a closed circuit, one portion of said closed circuit traversing said window, and means to compact said sheets in that portion of said circuit traversing said window, the foremost of said sheets visibly registering therethrough, and means to advance said foremost sheet along said circuit out of register with said window and to push forward by contacting with the rearmost sheet all of said compacted sheets in said circuit.

5. In a display device containing a display window and comprising a plurality of display sheets movably restrained within a closed circuit, a portion of said circuit traversing said window, means to compact said sheets in an overlapping position in that portion of said circuit traversing said window, and means to stop the foremost sheet in register with said window, and means to advance said foremost sheet along said circuit and to coincidently advance the next of said compacted sheets into a position in register with said window.

6. In a display device containing a display window and comprising a plurality of display sheets movably restrained within a closed circuit, a portion of said circuit traversing said window, and means to control the passage of sheets around said circuit so that that portion of said circuit traversing said window is filled with said sheets in a compact overlapping position, and secondary means to stop the foremost and outermost of said overlapping sheets so that it visibly registers within said window.

'7. In a display device having a display window and comprising a series of clamps free to move in a closed circuit formed by top and bottom guides therefor, each of said clamps holding the leading edge of a display sheet and forming thereby an overlapping series of flag-like sheets, each clamp in contact with the next clamp in said series, and filling thereby that portion of said circuit in register with said window, and reciprocating means to advance and stop the next to the foremost of said contacting clamps in said series slightly beyond said window so that the flag-like sheet which it carries will correctly register therewith.

8. Ina display device having a display window and comprising a series of clamps free to move in a closed circuit formed by top and bottom guides, a portion of said circuit traversing said window, each of said clamps holding the leading edge of a display sheet and forming thereby a magazine of overlapping series of flag-like sheets grouped in that portion of said circuit traversing said Window, each of said clamps contacting with the next clamp in said series, and means to push forward in said circuit the entire series of clamps therein except that one next to the foremost one by said foremost clamp holding its flag-like sheet after it traverses said window.

9. In a display device having a display window and comprising a series of clamps free to move in a closed circuit formed by a guide, a portion of said circuit traversing said window, each of said clamps holding the leading edge of a display sheet and forming thereby an overlapping series of flaglike sheets grouped in that portion of said circuit traversing said window, and means to advance sequently the clamp next to the foremost of said flag-like clamped sheets in said overlapping series to register with said window, and means to push forward in said circuit the remaining clamps therein by said foremost clamp holding its flag-like sheet after it traverses said window.

10. In a display device having a show window therefor and comprising a plurality of clamps movably restrained in a closed circuit, a portion of said circuit traversing said window, each clamp in said circuit holding the leading edge of a display sheet, and means to advance one clamp at a time in a portion of said circuit not traversing said window, and means to compact said clamps when in front of said window to hold said sheets in an overlapping position and tangent to said circuit.

11. In a display device containing a show window and comprising a plurality of movable clamps guided in a closed circuit, a portion of said circuit traversing said window, each of said clamps holding the leading edge of a display sheet, and means to maintain the display sheets in a close overlapping position and tangent to said circuit in that portion of said circuit traversed by said window, and means to advance in sequence, and one at a time, each display sheet along that portion of said circuit not traversed by said window, and which is empty of movable clamps.

12. In a display device having a show window therefor and comprising a plurality of display sheets movably restrained within an operative circuit, said circuit traversing said window, a motor, and means therewith to produce a reciprocating movement, and means connected with each forward stroke of said reciprocating movement to withdraw said sheets, one by one, from a position in register with said window, and means to retard each reciprocating movement for a predetermined duration on its return stroke.

13. In a display device having a show window therefor and comprising a plurality of display sheets an operative circuit therefor and clamps for said sheets movable in said operative circuit said circuit traversing said Window, motive means to advance through one portion of said circuit said clamps, one at a time, and means in the other portion of said circuit to advance by said motive means all but one of saidclamps at one time.

CHARLES ROBERTS. 

